FBI using polygraph tests amid efforts to plug widespread internal leaks: Report
Apr 29, 2025
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has reportedly begun using polygraph tests to detect potential leakers of sensitive information.
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U.S. intelligence agencies are aiming to weed out whistleblowers to plug leaks of sensitive
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information to the media and using technology more than 100 years old to do it
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FBI Director Kash Patel ordering the Bureau to begin polygraph tests to find anyone it believes
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is leaking information hurtful to its operations, as first reported by The Washington Post
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The enhanced tactics have reportedly led to a culture of fear within national security agencies
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In response to the Post's report, a spokesperson says serious leaks led to the deployment of polygraph tests but did not offer specifics on information shared
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The move follows Attorney General Pam Bondi's legal directives, advising the Department of Justice to subpoena journalists, personal communications
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and widen criteria for legal action against leaks of not just classified material
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but privileged and sensitive information the Trump administration finds is designed to sow chaos and distrust in the government
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Officials warn the broader scope of efforts to combat leaks may include
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information the Trump administration sees as embarrassing or out of line with its views
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as reasons for firing or prosecution. Officials note a worsening environment following the firing of the head of the NSA
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General Timothy Hough earlier this month His firing also came amid dozens of Department of Homeland Security cybersecurity officials being laid off and forced into early retirement
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The Pentagon has also been impacted by departures recently after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
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let go of several top aides after he was reportedly angered by leaks to news agencies
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involving sensitive communications with defense officials. The move by the FBI to employ so-called
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lie detector test follows a call from Trump ally Laura Loomer calling for National Intelligence
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Director Tulsi Gabbard to polygraph every single intelligence employee in an effort to clean house
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of suspected leakers, particularly those who served under President Biden. Gabbard recently
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announced her agency provided criminal referrals connected to a number of leaks, promising
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cooperations with the DOJ in finding and charging leakers. Stephen Aftergood, who is an expert in
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intelligence policy, however, says polygraphs are not truly lie detectors. They're actually
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stress detectors, saying polygraphs do not measure truth of falsity. They measure stress
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The Trump administration defends its previous efforts against the source of leaks
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arguing it's fighting to end what it deems the weaponization of law enforcement it says was
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pursued under Biden. For more unbiased updates, download the Straight Arrow News app or go to san.com
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